Why is my water supply such a big issue ?

samsmoot

Gothicfairy wrote: »

Oh for gods sake, now you are playing silly with terms,...OK the water company apply for a CCJ and the court issues one. Happy now ?
I am sure everyone knew what I meant

Accuracy is important when it comes to the law, so forgive my pedantry.

Courts don't issue CCJs just because one is applied for - you make it all seem like the water companies have all the control. CCJs are made when no defence is filed, or when the claimant succeeds in convincing a judge of the merits of their claim.

I doubt very much that a CCJ has ever been issued for advance charges alone.

Gothicfairy

You can doubt all you like, I couldn't care less to be honest as I think you are trying to excuse taking and using something without paying for it and I am afraid I just don't see why you should be allowed to do that.

You want to pay for what you use then get a meter

sunflower_2

Gothicfairy wrote: »

Because you are not on a water meter you have to pay in advance, that is what the RV charge is.
There is no "allowed to get away with it", it is the way these charges are applied like the council tax.
By all means stand up and pay for what you use in arrears......it's called getting a meter.

when i was a single parent i was in the same boat as OP.

i opted for the water meter which worked better for me as billed in arrears - made me feel a bit "smug"er about things....

...but i had a buyer pull out when selling the property because they didnt want a metered water supply

you win some, you lose some.

Gothicfairy

sunflower wrote: »

...but i had a buyer pull out when selling the property because they didnt want a metered water supply

you win some, you lose some.

I think people will see this less and less as more and more water companies fit meters on change of occupier as standard and thus it really will not make the slightest difference what the house came with.

davidgmmafan

It does seem very harsh and a somewhat stupid policy. There must be some cost implication to using a DCA not to mention court.

I fell behind on my water bills with my local company. Contacted them just before it was passed on and everything was sorted out and back on direct debit.

It is an interesting legal point as to whether you can successfully sue someone just for advance charges. There kind of is and isn't a debt at the same time.

I do not know where you stand legally but I do know it usually takes a long time for most companies to actually file for court (not sure if this applies here though if they are so gung ho after one missed payment). I would at least ensure you keep paying the regular monthly amount. If they do have a process which takes time the 'debt' will be reducing each month.

I would hope a judge would take a dim view of them filing for court for a debt which is reducing. At least bang in a complaint, if it isn't recorded when people are unhappy with their policies there is zero chance of them changing.

samsmoot

davidgmmafan wrote: »

It is an interesting legal point as to whether you can successfully sue someone just for advance charges. There kind of is and isn't a debt at the same time.

Yes, it is an interesting legal point - I'd like to know if it's ever happened.

samsmoot

Like the sig BTW david - MMA is brilliant! I love that Fedor Emelianenko - amazing skills.

amiehall

If I were you, I would keep making the £22 monthly payments as agreed. I would also write to your water company marking it as a formal complaint and mention that you're unhappy that they've taken the decision to involve debt collectors and cancel your payment plan when your account has always been in good order. The account has always been kept up to date, and to cancel your payment plan on the back of one late payment is extreme. I would ask them to reconsider and reinstate your payment plan conditional on all future payments being made on time. Hopefully they will see some sense rather than waste all our money on pointless debt collection measures and court action.

Gothicfairy

As they are a private company they can waste our money all they like as it is their profit and it is not that expensive to go down the recovery route as most use an in house collection agency and block book court time anyway.
As for complaining, well of course you could do that but as a payment plan is not a right a polite and nice letter might go further and get it sorted out quicker.

amiehall

Well sort of... Except profits are regulated and any money spent on similar action is recouped directly as an increase to bills so....